Ice-table for ice-cutting machines.



PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

T. H. BUTLERw IGE TABLE FOR ICE CUTTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAIL-24, 1903.

ZSHBETS-SHEET 1 K0 MODEL.

INVENT OR 7 $4M KM. WWW

No. 737,904. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1903.

T. H. BUTLER.

1GB TABLE FOR ICE CUTTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24. 1903.

2. SHEETS-SHEET 2.

no MODEL.

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lV/TNESSES INVENTOR MW ay 7 g g @%M%M UNTTED STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

THOMAS H. BUTLER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

ICE-TABLE FOR lCE-CUTTlNG MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,904, datedfieptember 1, 1903.

Application filed January 24, 1903. Serial No. 140,400. (No model.)

To all whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs H. BUTLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ice- Tables for lce Gutting Machines and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tables for supporting cakes of ice such as manufactured in icemachines while being sawed into blocks by suitable cutting mechanism; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of the table. Fig. 2 is a side view of the table. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the catch mechanism.

A is a floor or platform provided with an opening a. B is a strong beam or floor-joist at one side of the said opening.

0 is the ice-table, and D represents hinges which connect the table with the joist B. The table is normally supported level with the floor; but it may be turned on its hinges to raise or to lower it, as required.

D represents curved guide -brackets secured to the under side of the table,and d represents flexible connections, such as chains or cords, which are secured at d to the brackets and which bear on their curved surfaces.

E represents hoisting barrels journaled above the table, and 6 represents flexible connections, such as chains or cords, which are wound on the said barrels and attached to the free ends of the flexible connections (l by suitable hooks c.

The table itself is of any approved construction, and preferably consists of channel-bars connected by suitable crosspieces and braces and covered with planking.

F represents end plates,providcd with stems j, which are dropped into engagement with sockets f in the table adjacent to its hinged edge. 4

G is an inclined chute arranged below the floor A on the other side of the table from its hinges. The table may be raised to a nearly vertical position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, or it may be lowered so as to come in line with the chute G.

11 represents projections arranged below the floor for supporting the free ends of the flexible connections (Z when detached from the hooks.

In operation one end of a cake of ice is placed on the end plates, with one side of it resting against the table when the table is in its raised position, by means of a suitable crane. The table is then lowered, with the ice cake 011 it, to theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 1. The end plates are then removed, and the flexible connections d are unhooked and slipped onto the adjacent projections 11 below the level of the-floor. This leaves nothing but the ice cake projecting above the top of the table. This ice cake is then sawed into blocks by means of suitable cutting mechanism. The table is supported during the cutting operation by means of two slidable catches or bolts I, which slide in suitable guides 6 under the floor. These bolts are coupled together by pivoted lovers 3' and j and connecting-rods 70, so that they can be operated simultaneously. lVhen the sawing op eration is complete, the flexible connections d are again hooked onto the hoisting mechanism, and the bolts are withdrawn. The table is then lowered, so that the blocks of ice slide off its surface by gravity and pass down the chute into a store-room or other place, whence they are shipped to the consumer.

What I claim is-- 1. The combination, with a floor having an opening, and a supporting-beam at one side of the said opening; of an ice-table hinged at one edge to the said beam and working in the said opening, means forsupporting the ice on the table when in its raised position, and operating mechanism for turning the table on its hinges.

2. The combination, with a support, of an ice-table hinged at one edge to the said support, asocket let into the table near its hinged edge, an end plate provided with a stem which slides in the said socket, and means for turning the said table on its hinges, substantially as set forth.

The combination, with a support, of an ice-table hinged at one edge to the said support, guide-brackets secured to the under side of the said table, flexible connections bearing on the said brackets, and hoisting mechanism arranged above the table and coupled to the said connections, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, With a floor having an opening, and an inclined chute below the floor on one side of the said opening; of an ice-table working in the said opening and hinged to the said floor on the other side of the said opening, and means for turning the said table on its hinges, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a floor having an opening, of an ice-table hinged to the floor at one side of the opening, projections under the floor on the other side of the said opening, guide-brackets secured to the under side of the said table, flexible connections bearing on the said brackets and adapted to engage With the said projections, and hoisting mechanism arranged above the floor and provided with means for engaging with the said connections, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with a support, of an ice-table hinged at one edge to the said support, an end plate projecting from the table near its hinged edge, slidable bolts supporting the other edge of the table, and lever mechanism for operating the said bolts simultaneously, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a floor or platform having an opening, of a pivoted ice-table working in the said opening and having its upper surface normally horizontal, means for supporting the ice on the said table When the table is placed in an inclined position, and operating mechanism for turning the said table on its pivots.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS II; BUTLER.

Witnesses:

.T. MILTON LYELL, T. BAYARD ILLIAMs. 

